Wire-unwinding device.



No. 789,904. PATENTED MAY 16, 1905. J. J. FOSS.

WIRE UNWINDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 5, 1904.

.Il I

UNTTED STATES Patented lVIay 16, 1905.

PATENT Trice,

JOHN J. FOSS, O F SANDUSKY, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOLEY l/VIRE FENCE COMPANY, OF SANDUSKY, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

WIRE-UNWINDING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming; part of Letters Patent No. 789,904, dated May 16, 1905.

Application led March 5, 1904. Serial No. 196,713.

To all 11171/0777/ 2215 may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. Foss, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Sandusky, county of Erie, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wire-Unwinding Devices, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle,so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to wire-unwinding devices, and particularly to such devices as are adapted to feed wire to machines utilized for weaving wire fencing and analogous purposes,

, and has for its object the provision of means that shall be enabled to effect such feeding in an efficient and economical manner.

Said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described, and speciiicallyset forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention,such disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, Figure l represents a plan view of the mechanism embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of such mechanism with parts in section.

The line of the floor is represented by A, upon which are bolted two standards B and C. Upon the standard B is formed or secured a'member D, provided with an axial bore cl3, within which latter is mounted a horizontallyrotatable member d, formed with a journal CZ* and provided with an axial bore ci', through which the wire e may be guided. The rotatable memberfl is provided with an integral angular neck d2, tapered and bent at the outer end in the direction from which the wire e is drawn and having an internal bore @Z5 in continuation of the bore CZ', the wire being received at the said outer bent end ofsaid neck. Upon the proximately equal in diameter to the diameter of a bundle of wire E, and the wire e is withdrawn tangentially from said bundle.

Standard C consists of a base portion C and a top portion C2,'rotatable about a vertical axis and formed with two cylindrical drums C3 C3, having horizontal axes and each of which is adapted to receive and hold a bundle of Wire, as shown. The upper portion C2 is formed with a vertical trunnion member c, mounted in a suitable bearing o in the base portion C, whereby such portion C2 is rendered, as previously mentioned, rotatable about a vertical axis. A set-screw F, provided with a thumb-piece, is mounted in portion C and is adapted to engage the trunnion c, and so lock the portion C2 at any desired position in its rotation. The height of the axes of drums C3 C3 from the floor is made equal to that of the rotatable member d, and these axes may be placed in alinement by adjusting the position of upper portion C2 by means of the screw F.

H represents a counterweight which is adapted to equalize the strain upon the member D caused by the weight of the angular neck d2.

The ends of the wire of the two bundles upon the drums C3 C3 are welded together before the bundles are placed upon the drums, so that when the wire from one bundle is exhausted the portion C2 may be revolved through an arc of one hundred and eighty degrees and the wire then fed from the other bundle in the same position as was the irst bundle. While the feeding from such second bundle is taking place a third bundle may be mounted upon the drum C3 from which the first bundle has been unwound, the wire of said third bundle having been previously welded to the free end of the second bundle, whereby a continuous feed of wire may be provided. The angular shape of the neck portion Z2 is adapted to effect the revolution of the looseitting cylindrical member l within the member D when the wire is pulled by the wiremachine,so that said neck portion Z2 describes a circle of given diameter around the bundle E and gradually unwinds the wire therefrom. Bundles are successively thrown into position for feeding wire from the same and a continuous feed of wire obtained in the `manner previously described.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the means herein disclosed provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention- 1. In a Wire-unwinding device, the combination with a support for bundles of wire revoluble in one plane; of revoluble means for unwinding the wire tangentially from said support, said latter means caused to travel, by the pull of the wire, around one end of said support in a plane transverse to the plane of revolution of said support.

2. In a wire-unwinding device, the combination with a support adapted to hold bundles of wire fiXedly relatively thereto and revoluble in one plane, of a member provided with a passage-way for wire and with an angular neck terminating adjacent to one end of said support, said angular neck rendering said member, as the wire is pulled therethrough, revoluble in a plane transverse to the plane of revolution of said support, whereby wire is unwound by said angular neck tangentially from said adjacent end of said support.

3. In a wire-unwinding device, the combination of means for supporting a bundle of wire, a second support, a member revoluble within said latter support and provided with an angular neck terminating adjacent to the bundle of wire and adapted to travel around the same upon the revolution of such member, a passage-way for wire through said member, and a counterweight to said angular neck on said second support.

4:. In a wire-unwinding device, the combination with a support adapted to hold a bundle of wire on either end thereof; a second support; a member revoluble within said latter support and provided with an angular neck terminating adjacent to one end of said first support and adapted to travel around said end upon the revolution of said member to unwind wire tangentially from said end, the revolution of said member being caused by the pull of the wire, said first support being revoluble whereby bundles of wire may be successively thrown into position to be unwound from said support at the end thereof which is adjacent to said angular neck.

Signed by me this lst day of March, 1904.

JOHN J. FOSS.

Attest:

G. W. SAYWELL, A. E. MERKEL. 

